DON’T TAKE US FOR FUELS
Petrol prices soar by 30c-a-litre in one day as motorists urged to take charge
PETROL prices across the Coast have skyrocketed in the past day, in a move cynics will say has shocked no-one.
Prices are expected to stay up around the $1.59 mark into next week after petrol stations followed each other in hiking up the price yesterday ahead of the Easter break.
But the RACQ said motorists could still find decent prices and should shop around.
“Your expensive fuel is at the northern and southern end of the Gold Coast and it’s cheaper in the middle,’’ Rebecca Michael,
RACQ’s head of public policy said, urging motorists to use fuel price apps to find cheap petrol.
PETROL prices across the Coast have skyrocketed in the past day, in a move cynics will say has shocked no-one, ahead of the Easter break.
Spreading like wildfire, the price hike saw the rise in the north and south Coast, before creeping through the suburbs into the heart of the city.
Prices at some stations soared from $1.29 to $1.59 in 24 hours and are expected to stay up around the $1.59 mark into next week as motorists look to head away to be with loved ones.
If you are still looking for a bargain head into Southport or along Brisbane Rd, to the GOLD Coasters are driving out of their way to try and beat petrol price spikes and in some cases avoiding leisure time trips to save on fuel.
Landscaper Ashley Kirwan drives from jobs across independent petrol stations who will look to do battle with the big players like Caltex, Coles and BP by keeping their prices low.
Some stations still had fuel at $1.30 a litre yesterday.
Head of Public Policy with RACQ, Rebecca Michael said the price hike spread like a “bloom” yesterday. Although prices were steep, drivers looking for a decent price can still find one.
“At 9am (yesterday) we only had 29 per cent of retailers had hiked their prices up to $1.59 … by 11am we had 37 per cent, it’s spreading fast,” Ms Michael said.
“Your expensive fuel is at the northern and southern the region to a petrol station near home to avoid paying the extra cents.
The business owner, speaking to the Bulletin while filling up at Freedom Fuel St Clair’s in Southport yesterday, said he was frustrated with the price hikes in areas across the Gold Coast. end of the Gold Coast and it’s cheaper in the middle.
“What we are seeing is like a blooming effect, as those expensive retailers at the north and the south of the Gold Coast spread, they’re reducing that cheap cluster in the middle.”
Ms Michael said customers were turning to fuel price apps to find cheap petrol, with companies forced to report their prices 30 minutes after changing them under a State Government trial.
“We shouldn’t be surprised (by the price hike). Cheaper fuel is available, people just need to know where to find it and what we’re finding with the real time price
Mr Kirwan said he had gone out of his way to go to the station where it was $1.30 a litre compared to $1.59 at some stations.
“It can really sting your average income earner. We’re in the middle of a recession and if you’re running a small business you’re having reporting, generally we’re seeing cheaper margins.
“In the past, you might have had a Coles or a BP who might try a fuel price hike and other retailers would panic and they’d all go with them.
“What we’re finding now is a lot of failed hike attempts, because people can still see those retailers that are offering the cheap fuel (through the apps), and the retailers themselves, appear to be wanting to maintain competitive tension, rather than just follow the first mover.”
A Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy spokeswoman said about 95 per cent of retailers had signed up to the pricing trial. to cut prices,” he said.
“It’s a real struggle out there at the moment, and having the extra fuel charge. You can’t actually do things for extra miles like going to the park, the beach because you can’t afford it.
“It’s taking resources out of people’s pockets.”
“The purpose of the trial is to put the power back into the hands of motorists by giving them the tools to find the cheapest fuel in their areas,” the spokeswoman said.
“Savvy motorists on the Gold Coast today could save up to 28 cents per litre by using the apps and websites – saving them $14 on a 50-litre tank just by shopping around.
“The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Fuel Price Report found that more competition is the key to lowering fuel prices, and the Queensland Government is pleased with community feedback that motorists are using the apps to shop around.”
The price hikes weren’t going unnoticed by fellow customer Hazel Shumba either.
“I notice it especially since I’m a university student, a lot of my colleagues have as well,” she said.
“I think it’s going to keep going up, it’s really tough.”